Group begs federal, state govts to reconstruct Bauchi-Gombe road, labels it death trap

A group, the Initiative for Good Leadership and Development in Gombe State, has cried out to the federal and state governments, including elected and appointed representatives to reconstruct the Bauchi-Gombe road.

The group’s Public Relations Officer, Tasi’u Muhammad Pantami, who made public the concerns of the group in a statement issued on Thursday, stressed that “the road connecting Bauchi and Gombe states is an eyesore and in a total state of disrepair and highly difficult to traverse by commuters.”

The statement reads: “There is therefore the urgent need for the Federal Government and the States of Bauchi and Gombe as well as our elected and appointed Representatives to immediately intervene to put the road in a motorable and accessible condition for commuters to freely traverse.

“The road to say the least is currently a death trap, begetting horrifying socio-economic havoc in the sub-region. Apart from the insane inconveniences being faced by commuters plying the road, frequent accidents occur leading to unfortunate and unforgivable loss of lives and properties.

“Generally, it is incontrovertible that road infrastructure is critical to the growth and development of any society, state or nation. It connects one community/people with another, facilitates the movement of people, goods and services thereby enhancing trade and industrialization, boosting regional connectivity and integration as well as promoting tourism development.”

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The group emphasised that the bad state of the road has frustrated the socio-economic progress of communities in the area.

“However, the deplorable state of Bauchi-Gombe road is not only endangering the lives and properties of our people but is seriously hampering socio-economic progress, growth and development. For instance businesses relying on transporting goods between the two states and beyond face a lot of challenges.

“The high cost of maintenance of vehicles and transportation in general increase the prices of goods and services in the region. Similarly, the inaccessible nature of the zone deters potential investors, thereby limiting economic growth and opportunities for the local populace.

“It is in view of the above that we strongly implore the Federal Government and our States’ elected and appointed Representatives to instantaneously intervene to address the situation and stem the horrific experiences being suffered by the commuters. The reconstruction of the road must of necessity be prioritised to alleviate the agonising experiences the people have endured for long and foster economic growth and development. This done, we believe, will demonstrate the commitment of our Governments and Representatives to the welfare of their electorates.”

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